MODELING OF POLLUTANT DISPERSION IN SEA-BREEZE CONDITIONS USING A LAGRANGIAN MODEL

This work presents a numerical study of non-reactive pollutant dispers ion in sea breeze conditions. Sea breeze circulation is investigated u sing a 3-D mesoscale meteorological model. Simulation was conducted fo r the area of Tarragona (Spain) which has an important petrochemical i ndustry in the coastal region and complex terrain. Results from the me teorological model were used as input to a Lagrangian particle model i n order to analyze the pollutant dispersion of an elevated plume emitt ing near the shoreline. The simulation was performed for 24 h and an a nalysis of the meteorological and concentration fields was untertaken for this time period. The results are compared with measured surface d ata. Good correlation exists between observed and simulated conditions indicating that the coupling of the meteorological and particle model s provides a good tool for analyzing air pollution in complex situatio ns.